"Thank you, Benefactor, for saving my life!"
Inside a dilapidated temple outside the Imperial City, Zhang Xuan landed while holding the woman in his arms. She steadied herself and bowed to thank him.
Zhang Xuan stared intently at the woman. Her brows furrowed as she edged backward, wariness showing on her face.
Suddenly, he dropped to his knees before her with a thud.
"Benefactor, what... what are you doing?" The woman looked utterly confused.
Zhang Xuan raised his head, his eyes faintly brimming with tears. He opened his mouth and said,
"Mother, your son has returned!"
The woman froze at his words, her brows knitting even tighter. "Benefactor, d-don't joke around."
Zhang Xuan spoke again. "The day your child was born in the woodshed, evil thieves separated us and abandoned me deep in the mountains. Fortunately, my life was not yet meant to end."
"The woodshed? You... you... no, impossible. By my reckoning, my child would only be half a year old. How could he possibly be a grown man like you? Benefactor, do not joke around."
Her disbelief was only natural.
"Mother, you may inspect your son's birthmark."
Zhang Xuan immediately took off his shirt, revealing his broad chest.
The woman hastily turned her head away. "Benefactor, please conduct yourself with dignity!"
Zhang Xuan stared at her and slowly approached. "Mother, do you remember the birthmark on your child's chest?"
"I... when my child was born, there was a red flame-pattern birthmark on his left chest. Of course I remember it as his mother." Though she had turned away, the woman answered at once.
"Mother, turn around and look at your son."
"Benefactor, you... please, please conduct yourself properly!" The woman still refused to turn around.
Zhang Xuan stepped behind her, placed a hand on her shoulder, and turned